subject:"\[RBW\] Re\: Gray Whale 200K"

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-05 Thread EricP

And the insurance issue is one I totally understand.  It's just other
aspects of this particular group that I have problems with.  Anyway,
in MN you need to be a member of TCBC before riding a brevet.

Eric Platt
St. Paul, MN

On Jan 4, 9:16 pm, Ralph Rognstad Jr. rognsta...@sbcglobal.net
wrote:
 I believe membership is an insurance issue. Some clubs carry a blanket
 policy for all members, so they require membership. My local club pays a
 premium for each ride based on the number of riders (members or not),
 which the riders pay for through the ride fee. I decided not to run the
 brevets I coordinate through the club, and instead I pay an insurance
 fee to RUSA after the brevet for each rider based on the length of the
 event. The insurance cost is included in the $10 ride fee, as well as
 printing brevet cards, maps, and release forms; purchasing envelopes and
 postage to return brevet cards; and gasoline for pre-driving the route
 if I have not ridden it recently.

 Ralph

 On 1/4/2011 1:01 PM, Anne Paulson wrote:



  On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 10:45 AM, Steve Palincsarpalin...@his.com  wrote:

  It's $10 per year to join the DC area randonneur club, and $5 per event.
  Considering how much effort the organizers put into setting up the
  events, I think that's well worth it, and I'm sure it scarcely covers
  the expenses.
  In my area one doesn't have to join the club putting on the event.
  That's probably because we're blessed with four different randonneur
  clubs in reasonable driving distance, so local randonneurs sample all
  the clubs' brevets.- Hide quoted text -

 - Show quoted text -

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K handlebar bag

2011-01-04 Thread JimD

+1 for bar bags.
I use one of the Riv bar tubes on my custom with a small ps camera,
and food in it.

I've not noticed any effect on handling.
-JimD

On Jan 3, 2011, at 6:46 PM, Joan Oppel wrote:

A small, light bag might work on the Roadeo.
Happy riding,
Joan

Jan 3, 2011 08:51:25 PM, rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com wrote:
Congrats. Definitely shows my rides over the weekend were properly
weak.

Makes me want to contemplate a 200k in the future. However, will not
join a club just to do the one ride.

Eric Platt
St. Paul, MN

On Jan 3, 1:23 pm, Anne Paulson wrote:
On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:10 AM, William wrote:
Anne

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups RBW Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-
bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en
.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K handlebar bag

2011-01-04 Thread doug peterson

On issue regarding front bags that has not been mentioned is cross
winds.  Anne mentioned it was quite windy on the brevet.  A large boxy
front bag (I use the Acorn Boxy Rando mostly) has quite a bit of sail
area as well as sticking toward the front.  I definitely notice cross
winds but it's not much of a control issue.  Prior to the Acorn, I
used Riv's Hobo and Bar Tube.  These both sit close to the bars and I
never noticed a cross wind issue with them.  Most of my riding is
utility and touring so I lean toward capacity and convenience.  For an
event such as a brevet, however, the bar tube for immediate needs such
as food, combined with a saddlebag for clothes, tools, tubes, etc.,
may be a better selection.

dougP

On Jan 4, 1:45 am, JimD rasterd...@comcast.net wrote:
 +1 for bar bags.
 I use one of the Riv bar tubes on my custom with a small ps camera,  
 and food in it.
 I've not noticed any effect on handling.
 -JimD

 On Jan 3, 2011, at 6:46 PM, Joan Oppel wrote:



  Thanks for the terrific write up on the brevet.  As for handlebar  
  bags:  for touring (which I do with only rear panniers as I motel  
  tour),  I use a lightweight small bag on my handlebars that carries  
  my pointshoot digital camera and food.  The bag is an unmentionable  
  brand but it is quite light.  A headlight would still fit on the top  
  of the bars.  I cannot notice any difference in handling of the  
  Bleriot (or for that matter, the Waterford) with that small bag.  
  And since I mostly ride both bikes without a bag, I think I would  
  notice if the bag had some effect.  If needed, I can unzip the bag,  
  grab a bar, tear the wrapper with my teeth and eat it while riding.  
  Not my first choice, but I've done it to hang with folks.

  A small, light bag might work on the Roadeo.
  Happy riding,
  Joan

  Jan 3, 2011 08:51:25 PM, rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com wrote:
  Congrats. Definitely shows my rides over the weekend were properly
  weak.

  Makes me want to contemplate a 200k in the future. However, will not
  join a club just to do the one ride.

  Eric Platt
  St. Paul, MN

  On Jan 3, 1:23 pm, Anne Paulson wrote:
   On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:10 AM, William wrote:
Anne

  --
  You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google  
  Groups RBW Owners Bunch group.
  To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-
  bu...@googlegroups.com.
  To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
  rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
  .
  For more options, visit this group 
  athttp://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en
  .

  --
  You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google  
  Groups RBW Owners Bunch group.
  To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-
  bu...@googlegroups.com.
  To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
  rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
  .
  For more options, visit this group 
  athttp://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en
  .- Hide quoted text -

 - Show quoted text -

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-04 Thread Jim M.

On Jan 3, 5:51 pm, EricP ericpl...@aol.com wrote:
 Makes me want to contemplate a 200k in the future.  However, will not
 join a club just to do the one ride.

 Eric Platt
 St. Paul, MN


Is that attitude from thrift? In my area, it costs nothing to join the
randonneur club, and it only costs $10 to do a ride. If that's from
misanthropy or introversion, I can't help. ;-)

jim m
wc ca

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-04 Thread William

...or maybe he's a Groucho Marxist!

On Jan 4, 10:31 am, Jim M. mather...@gmail.com wrote:
 On Jan 3, 5:51 pm, EricP ericpl...@aol.com wrote:

  Makes me want to contemplate a 200k in the future.  However, will not
  join a club just to do the one ride.

  Eric Platt
  St. Paul, MN

 Is that attitude from thrift? In my area, it costs nothing to join the
 randonneur club, and it only costs $10 to do a ride. If that's from
 misanthropy or introversion, I can't help. ;-)

 jim m
 wc ca

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-04 Thread Anne Paulson

I didn't have to join any local club, nor did I have to join RUSA. I
just paid my ten bucks to sign up for the ride, and that was it.

On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 5:51 PM, EricP ericpl...@aol.com wrote:


 Makes me want to contemplate a 200k in the future.  However, will not
 join a club just to do the one ride.

-- 
-- Anne Paulson

My hovercraft is full of eels

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-04 Thread Steve Palincsar

On Tue, 2011-01-04 at 10:31 -0800, Jim M. wrote:
 On Jan 3, 5:51 pm, EricP ericpl...@aol.com wrote:
  Makes me want to contemplate a 200k in the future.  However, will not
  join a club just to do the one ride.
 
  Eric Platt
  St. Paul, MN
 
 
 Is that attitude from thrift? In my area, it costs nothing to join the
 randonneur club, and it only costs $10 to do a ride. If that's from
 misanthropy or introversion, I can't help. ;-)

It's $10 per year to join the DC area randonneur club, and $5 per event.
Considering how much effort the organizers put into setting up the
events, I think that's well worth it, and I'm sure it scarcely covers
the expenses.  

I'm an introvert, too, but I belong to 3 bike clubs.



-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K handlebar bag

2011-01-04 Thread mike


I have a Riv bar tube, it's got the roadside repair kit and bus fare
in it.  I hang it from the top tube.  It's thin enough that it doesn't
hit my legs.  It wasn't a problem on the bars, just seems to work
better for me inside the triangle.

On Jan 4, 2:45 am, JimD rasterd...@comcast.net wrote:
 +1 for bar bags.
 I use one of the Riv bar tubes on my custom with a small ps camera,  
 and food in it.
 I've not noticed any effect on handling.
 -JimD


-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-04 Thread Anne Paulson

On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 10:45 AM, Steve Palincsar palin...@his.com wrote:


 It's $10 per year to join the DC area randonneur club, and $5 per event.
 Considering how much effort the organizers put into setting up the
 events, I think that's well worth it, and I'm sure it scarcely covers
 the expenses.

In my area one doesn't have to join the club putting on the event.
That's probably because we're blessed with four different randonneur
clubs in reasonable driving distance, so local randonneurs sample all
the clubs' brevets.

-- 
-- Anne Paulson

My hovercraft is full of eels

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-04 Thread EricP

Our brevet society is fairly new (2008?).  And one needs to be a
member of the Twin Cities Bicycle Club ($25 a year) to join.   And
yes, I usually state will not join a club that would have me as a
member.  (Do believe they also highly encourage RUSA membership,
although that is not explicity stated on their page.)

The fact I don't fit in with the local establishment of riders is a
secondary issue.

Eric Platt
St. Paul, MN

On Jan 4, 1:01 pm, Anne Paulson anne.paul...@gmail.com wrote:
 On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 10:45 AM, Steve Palincsar palin...@his.com wrote:

  It's $10 per year to join the DC area randonneur club, and $5 per event.
  Considering how much effort the organizers put into setting up the
  events, I think that's well worth it, and I'm sure it scarcely covers
  the expenses.

 In my area one doesn't have to join the club putting on the event.
 That's probably because we're blessed with four different randonneur
 clubs in reasonable driving distance, so local randonneurs sample all
 the clubs' brevets.

 --
 -- Anne Paulson

 My hovercraft is full of eels

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-04 Thread Brian Hanson

As a former Minnesotan, I completely understand :) No need to join anything
to have fun on a bike. Keep riding!

Brian
Now a Seattlite

On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 5:47 PM, EricP ericpl...@aol.com wrote:

Our brevet society is fairly new (2008?). And one needs to be a
member of the Twin Cities Bicycle Club ($25 a year) to join. And
yes, I usually state will not join a club that would have me as a
member. (Do believe they also highly encourage RUSA membership,
although that is not explicity stated on their page.)

The fact I don't fit in with the local establishment of riders is a
secondary issue.

Eric Platt
St. Paul, MN

On Jan 4, 1:01 pm, Anne Paulson anne.paul...@gmail.com wrote:
On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 10:45 AM, Steve Palincsar palin...@his.com
wrote:

It's $10 per year to join the DC area randonneur club, and $5 per
event.
Considering how much effort the organizers put into setting up the
events, I think that's well worth it, and I'm sure it scarcely covers
the expenses.

In my area one doesn't have to join the club putting on the event.
That's probably because we're blessed with four different randonneur
clubs in reasonable driving distance, so local randonneurs sample all
the clubs' brevets.

--
-- Anne Paulson

My hovercraft is full of eels

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
RBW Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.comrbw-owners-bunch%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com
.
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-04 Thread Ralph Rognstad Jr.

I believe membership is an insurance issue. Some clubs carry a blanket 
policy for all members, so they require membership. My local club pays a 
premium for each ride based on the number of riders (members or not), 
which the riders pay for through the ride fee. I decided not to run the 
brevets I coordinate through the club, and instead I pay an insurance 
fee to RUSA after the brevet for each rider based on the length of the 
event. The insurance cost is included in the $10 ride fee, as well as 
printing brevet cards, maps, and release forms; purchasing envelopes and 
postage to return brevet cards; and gasoline for pre-driving the route 
if I have not ridden it recently.


Ralph

On 1/4/2011 1:01 PM, Anne Paulson wrote:

On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 10:45 AM, Steve Palincsarpalin...@his.com  wrote:


It's $10 per year to join the DC area randonneur club, and $5 per event.
Considering how much effort the organizers put into setting up the
events, I think that's well worth it, and I'm sure it scarcely covers
the expenses.

In my area one doesn't have to join the club putting on the event.
That's probably because we're blessed with four different randonneur
clubs in reasonable driving distance, so local randonneurs sample all
the clubs' brevets.



--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread Mike

As of last night, I'm averaging 200K per day for 2011.

Ha! Anne, great write-up! Sounds like an epic ride and a great
introduction to randonneuring. As I head into my fourth year of
randonneuring I feel like I'm still learning a lot about packing,
eating and how to pace myself. I've learned a lot so far but have a
long ways to go. It's funny how much more there is to it than just
getting on your bike and pedaling. I mean, that's a huge part of it,
the most base part of it and yet there is so much more--packing and
where and how to carry stuff (HB bag vs saddlebag vs jersey pockets,
etc) and what to carry. Then there's the issue of what to eat and
when! It's so easy to plan this stuff out while at home thinking about
and upcoming brevet and so so different when you're out on the road.

I remember on my first 200k it was pouring rain and I just motored
through the first half of the out and back course. At the turnaround I
latched on to the wheels of some experienced randonneurs, one who kept
a blog about distance cycling, and so rode back with them, picking the
one guy's brain (Dave Rowe) the entire way back. He talked about going
into open controls and seeing randonneurs just staring at food in the
store and being too discombobulated to figure out what they wanted,
something I had sort of experienced just a little while before. Dave
was referring more to late night controls on longer brevets but I got
a glimpse of the idea/experience. It's a phenomena I've experienced
multiple times since. It's really baffling. I'll often chuckle to
myself remembering the conversation with Dave. Anyway, that first 200k
was a complete success--no bonk, no mechanicals, and I finished with a
strong time (8:28).

I've gone on to finish that same brevet in under 8hrs but finished
other brevets pretty close the cut-off. I once finished a 600k with
only and hour and 15 minutes to spare. I've had a few mid-brevet bonks
but so far nothing that made me DNF. And as for mechanicals so far
I've only had a fender come loose and a few flats.

But back to you, again, a great ride report. Congrats on the strong
ride. Looking forward to hearing your report about your 300k! Do it!
That really is the best distance, it's just a good long time on the
bike without being as torturous as a 400k. And in spite of the 400k
being rather torturous, it's still something to experience. And you
know, if you've done a 200k, 300k and 400k, there's really no reason
not to do a 600k which is actually easier than a 400k because you
hopefully get to sleep a bit and who doesn't want to long epic days on
the bike?

Oh, and as for lighting. I have yet to get a generator hub I've been
using an Ixom IQ over the past couple of years and it's fine. As for
mounting it, you have more options than you might think--on the h-bar,
mid-fork with a Gino mount if you have a mid fork braze on or even
down low with one of these VO gizmos:

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/accessories/lighting/low-down-light-mount-type-i.html

Hope you're feeling rested and enthused about your next brevet!

--mike

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread cyclotourist

What a great way to start the year! The trick is maintaining that average
:-)

Riding 200K is very impressive. For me, 100K is a long ride, so anything
more than that is impressive!

On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 6:33 AM, Mike mjawn...@gmail.com wrote:

As of last night, I'm averaging 200K per day for 2011.

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/accessories/lighting/low-down-light-mount-type-i.html

Hope you're feeling rested and enthused about your next brevet!

--mike

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
RBW Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.comrbw-owners-bunch%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com
.
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

--
Cheers,
David
Redlands, CA

*...in terms of recreational cycling there are many riders who would
probably benefit more from
improving their taste than from improving their performance.* - RTMS

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread rperks

Awsome start to the year, great job making it to the end of the ride.
Be sure to share how you work out the bugs on you loading and
fendering etc. with your Roadeo.  I am going through some of the same
issues and hope to get back into some longer distances this year, that
was part of why I bought the Roadeo last year.

On Jan 2, 9:18 pm, Anne Paulson anne.paul...@gmail.com wrote:
 As of last night, I'm averaging 200K per day for 2011.

 Thanks, everyone, for the brevet advice. As promised, here's the report.

 The forecast was for rain all morning, SE wind 5-15 mph in the
 morning, rain stopping and wind dying down in the afternoon; almost
 ideal for an out-and-back that went northeast for the first half.  I
 was worried about being cold and wet, so I packed up an extra pair of
 socks, a pair of gloves, and an spare wool undershirt (those Ibex
 woolies are *fantastic*). I also brought rain pants. I planned to wear
 an Ibex wooly undershirt, a jersey, a rain jacket, polarfleece tights
 over shorts, and wool socks with booties over them. For food I brought
 some brownie bites with peppermint patties in them, and a meat pie,
 plus a flask of gel.

 I overslept yesterday morning, so I had to rush to get out of the
 house. Luckily, I'd packed up everything the night before. In the
 rush, though, I probably didn't eat enough breakfast.

 I arrived in plenty of time, with a good chance to check out the other
 bikes. I didn't see any other Rivs, though I think there may have been
 an orange one I missed. Several riders had beautiful Steve Rex bikes.
 Several riders were using Rivish canvas handlebar bags, some with
 decaleurs. Oddly, about a third of the riders didn't have fenders,
 even though rain was predicted and it was in fact raining.

 Since it was raining steadily at the start, I donned the rain pants. I
 stopped a couple of times near the start of the ride, so ended up
 riding alone, but with a tailwind that didn't matter. The rain tailed
 off after about an hour, and the wind picked up. I was zipping right
 along, not working too hard. What a delight it was to ride an empty
 Highway 1.

 I stopped for a pitstop and snack just north of Pigeon Point, maybe 30
 miles in, but didn't eat very much. Between Pescadero and San Gregorio
 I was catching  up to a tandem. I had visions of that tandem being my
 new best friend on the way back into the wind, but then at the base of
 the hill just north of San Gregorio, I was feeling a little bonkish so
 I stopped for a peppermint, and I didn't see the tandem couple again.
 That hill is pesky-- it's only about three or four hundred feet, but
 it always seems more difficult that I think it should. Perhaps it
 always comes at a difficult time in a ride-. Usually I approach it
 after having climbed Page Mill, Haskins Hill and the two little hills
 on Stage Road, so I'm tired. There are three ways to climb it, and the
 one I was doing, north on Highway 1, is the easiest. Still, I was glad
 to summit and ride the rollers to Half Moon Bay. After Half Moon Bay,
 it was only a few miles to the turnaround.

 I reached the turnaround four hours in, feeling strong, and took the
 last parking spot at the end of the line-up of bikes stretched out
 along the wall of the market. I was hoping for hot soup or a tasty
 sandwich, but the convenience store had only nasty-looking premade
 sandwiches and no soup. I had a chocolate milk, a banana, a brownie
 bite and a couple of bites of meat pie-- not really enough. The people
 still left at the rest stop when I was ready to go looked strong, like
 I wouldn't be able to stay with them, so I headed out alone.

 It was tough. That happy dream of the wind dropping was a
 weatherliar's fantasy. The wind continued just as it had been all day,
 with whitecaps out on the ocean, only now I had to ride into it. I
 figured on stopping every fifteen miles on the way back. The first
 stop was a random beach, where I was the only one enjoying the cold
 windy picnic tables. I didn't linger, and again I didn't eat enough.

 My second stop was at Gazos Creek. I had just leaned my bike against
 the wall to go in the convenience store when I noticed a group of
 cyclists passing. I jumped back on the bike and with my last strength,
 bridged to join them. The benefit was obvious; I could sit in for a
 while and stop fighting the wind I'd been fighting for thirty miles.
 The cost became clear; I needed to eat and to get more water, but I
 didn't. But three angels riding Steve Rex bikes babysat me for the
 rest of the route, as I got weaker and weaker. We stopped in
 Davenport. One of the angels handed me a Coke. I slurped it down, but
 I was still draggling as one of my angels escorted me, slowly, to the
 end of the ride, ten and a half hours after I started.

 Reflections:

 The ride was harder than I expected, and the challenge was different.
 I expected to be cold and wet, but in fact it rained only for about
 the first hour, with a few sprinkles near the

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread Michael_S

Very nice story and good info for a new Brevet rider. I am planning on
at least one 200k this year which will be my 1st. Your detailed
account will help me plan equipment choices and approach ( well maybe
not the meat pie). One issue I see is that all of the 200k rides are
very early in the year or later after summer.  I may have to wait
until the later ones as a hip injury kept my mileage low in December.

~Mike~

On Jan 3, 9:38 am, rperks perks@gmail.com wrote:
 Awsome start to the year, great job making it to the end of the ride.
 Be sure to share how you work out the bugs on you loading and
 fendering etc. with your Roadeo.  I am going through some of the same
 issues and hope to get back into some longer distances this year, that
 was part of why I bought the Roadeo last year.

 On Jan 2, 9:18 pm, Anne Paulson anne.paul...@gmail.com wrote:



  As of last night, I'm averaging 200K per day for 2011.

  Thanks, everyone, for the brevet advice. As promised, here's the report.

  The forecast was for rain all morning, SE wind 5-15 mph in the
  morning, rain stopping and wind dying down in the afternoon; almost
  ideal for an out-and-back that went northeast for the first half.  I
  was worried about being cold and wet, so I packed up an extra pair of
  socks, a pair of gloves, and an spare wool undershirt (those Ibex
  woolies are *fantastic*). I also brought rain pants. I planned to wear
  an Ibex wooly undershirt, a jersey, a rain jacket, polarfleece tights
  over shorts, and wool socks with booties over them. For food I brought
  some brownie bites with peppermint patties in them, and a meat pie,
  plus a flask of gel.

  I overslept yesterday morning, so I had to rush to get out of the
  house. Luckily, I'd packed up everything the night before. In the
  rush, though, I probably didn't eat enough breakfast.

  I arrived in plenty of time, with a good chance to check out the other
  bikes. I didn't see any other Rivs, though I think there may have been
  an orange one I missed. Several riders had beautiful Steve Rex bikes.
  Several riders were using Rivish canvas handlebar bags, some with
  decaleurs. Oddly, about a third of the riders didn't have fenders,
  even though rain was predicted and it was in fact raining.

  Since it was raining steadily at the start, I donned the rain pants. I
  stopped a couple of times near the start of the ride, so ended up
  riding alone, but with a tailwind that didn't matter. The rain tailed
  off after about an hour, and the wind picked up. I was zipping right
  along, not working too hard. What a delight it was to ride an empty
  Highway 1.

  I stopped for a pitstop and snack just north of Pigeon Point, maybe 30
  miles in, but didn't eat very much. Between Pescadero and San Gregorio
  I was catching  up to a tandem. I had visions of that tandem being my
  new best friend on the way back into the wind, but then at the base of
  the hill just north of San Gregorio, I was feeling a little bonkish so
  I stopped for a peppermint, and I didn't see the tandem couple again.
  That hill is pesky-- it's only about three or four hundred feet, but
  it always seems more difficult that I think it should. Perhaps it
  always comes at a difficult time in a ride-. Usually I approach it
  after having climbed Page Mill, Haskins Hill and the two little hills
  on Stage Road, so I'm tired. There are three ways to climb it, and the
  one I was doing, north on Highway 1, is the easiest. Still, I was glad
  to summit and ride the rollers to Half Moon Bay. After Half Moon Bay,
  it was only a few miles to the turnaround.

  I reached the turnaround four hours in, feeling strong, and took the
  last parking spot at the end of the line-up of bikes stretched out
  along the wall of the market. I was hoping for hot soup or a tasty
  sandwich, but the convenience store had only nasty-looking premade
  sandwiches and no soup. I had a chocolate milk, a banana, a brownie
  bite and a couple of bites of meat pie-- not really enough. The people
  still left at the rest stop when I was ready to go looked strong, like
  I wouldn't be able to stay with them, so I headed out alone.

  It was tough. That happy dream of the wind dropping was a
  weatherliar's fantasy. The wind continued just as it had been all day,
  with whitecaps out on the ocean, only now I had to ride into it. I
  figured on stopping every fifteen miles on the way back. The first
  stop was a random beach, where I was the only one enjoying the cold
  windy picnic tables. I didn't linger, and again I didn't eat enough.

  My second stop was at Gazos Creek. I had just leaned my bike against
  the wall to go in the convenience store when I noticed a group of
  cyclists passing. I jumped back on the bike and with my last strength,
  bridged to join them. The benefit was obvious; I could sit in for a
  while and stop fighting the wind I'd been fighting for thirty miles.
  The cost became clear; I needed to eat and to get more

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread doug peterson

Anne:

A bar tube bag is a great place to keep food.  They hold a suprising
amount but don't get in the way or affect the bikes handling the way a
larger bag may.

dougP

On Jan 2, 9:18 pm, Anne Paulson anne.paul...@gmail.com wrote:
 As of last night, I'm averaging 200K per day for 2011.

 Thanks, everyone, for the brevet advice. As promised, here's the report.

 The forecast was for rain all morning, SE wind 5-15 mph in the
 morning, rain stopping and wind dying down in the afternoon; almost
 ideal for an out-and-back that went northeast for the first half.  I
 was worried about being cold and wet, so I packed up an extra pair of
 socks, a pair of gloves, and an spare wool undershirt (those Ibex
 woolies are *fantastic*). I also brought rain pants. I planned to wear
 an Ibex wooly undershirt, a jersey, a rain jacket, polarfleece tights
 over shorts, and wool socks with booties over them. For food I brought
 some brownie bites with peppermint patties in them, and a meat pie,
 plus a flask of gel.

 I overslept yesterday morning, so I had to rush to get out of the
 house. Luckily, I'd packed up everything the night before. In the
 rush, though, I probably didn't eat enough breakfast.

 I arrived in plenty of time, with a good chance to check out the other
 bikes. I didn't see any other Rivs, though I think there may have been
 an orange one I missed. Several riders had beautiful Steve Rex bikes.
 Several riders were using Rivish canvas handlebar bags, some with
 decaleurs. Oddly, about a third of the riders didn't have fenders,
 even though rain was predicted and it was in fact raining.

 Since it was raining steadily at the start, I donned the rain pants. I
 stopped a couple of times near the start of the ride, so ended up
 riding alone, but with a tailwind that didn't matter. The rain tailed
 off after about an hour, and the wind picked up. I was zipping right
 along, not working too hard. What a delight it was to ride an empty
 Highway 1.

 I stopped for a pitstop and snack just north of Pigeon Point, maybe 30
 miles in, but didn't eat very much. Between Pescadero and San Gregorio
 I was catching  up to a tandem. I had visions of that tandem being my
 new best friend on the way back into the wind, but then at the base of
 the hill just north of San Gregorio, I was feeling a little bonkish so
 I stopped for a peppermint, and I didn't see the tandem couple again.
 That hill is pesky-- it's only about three or four hundred feet, but
 it always seems more difficult that I think it should. Perhaps it
 always comes at a difficult time in a ride-. Usually I approach it
 after having climbed Page Mill, Haskins Hill and the two little hills
 on Stage Road, so I'm tired. There are three ways to climb it, and the
 one I was doing, north on Highway 1, is the easiest. Still, I was glad
 to summit and ride the rollers to Half Moon Bay. After Half Moon Bay,
 it was only a few miles to the turnaround.

 I reached the turnaround four hours in, feeling strong, and took the
 last parking spot at the end of the line-up of bikes stretched out
 along the wall of the market. I was hoping for hot soup or a tasty
 sandwich, but the convenience store had only nasty-looking premade
 sandwiches and no soup. I had a chocolate milk, a banana, a brownie
 bite and a couple of bites of meat pie-- not really enough. The people
 still left at the rest stop when I was ready to go looked strong, like
 I wouldn't be able to stay with them, so I headed out alone.

 It was tough. That happy dream of the wind dropping was a
 weatherliar's fantasy. The wind continued just as it had been all day,
 with whitecaps out on the ocean, only now I had to ride into it. I
 figured on stopping every fifteen miles on the way back. The first
 stop was a random beach, where I was the only one enjoying the cold
 windy picnic tables. I didn't linger, and again I didn't eat enough.

 My second stop was at Gazos Creek. I had just leaned my bike against
 the wall to go in the convenience store when I noticed a group of
 cyclists passing. I jumped back on the bike and with my last strength,
 bridged to join them. The benefit was obvious; I could sit in for a
 while and stop fighting the wind I'd been fighting for thirty miles.
 The cost became clear; I needed to eat and to get more water, but I
 didn't. But three angels riding Steve Rex bikes babysat me for the
 rest of the route, as I got weaker and weaker. We stopped in
 Davenport. One of the angels handed me a Coke. I slurped it down, but
 I was still draggling as one of my angels escorted me, slowly, to the
 end of the ride, ten and a half hours after I started.

 Reflections:

 The ride was harder than I expected, and the challenge was different.
 I expected to be cold and wet, but in fact it rained only for about
 the first hour, with a few sprinkles near the end. But the wind was
 tough. The main problem, though, was my (stupidly unrecognized at the
 time) lack of food. I didn't drink enough, and I didn't

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread William

Anne

Thanks for the write up.  I'm ramping up for my first 200k brevet on
the 22nd.  Several key points for me:

1.  It's possible, even if it's cold windy and rainy
2.  Be happy how well my bike handles with a largish handlebar bag
3.  Fill said handlebar bag with food
4.  Commit oneself to consume said food

On Jan 3, 10:58 am, doug peterson dougpn...@cox.net wrote:
 Anne:

 A bar tube bag is a great place to keep food.  They hold a suprising
 amount but don't get in the way or affect the bikes handling the way a
 larger bag may.

 dougP

 On Jan 2, 9:18 pm, Anne Paulson anne.paul...@gmail.com wrote:

  As of last night, I'm averaging 200K per day for 2011.

  Thanks, everyone, for the brevet advice. As promised, here's the report.

  The forecast was for rain all morning, SE wind 5-15 mph in the
  morning, rain stopping and wind dying down in the afternoon; almost
  ideal for an out-and-back that went northeast for the first half.  I
  was worried about being cold and wet, so I packed up an extra pair of
  socks, a pair of gloves, and an spare wool undershirt (those Ibex
  woolies are *fantastic*). I also brought rain pants. I planned to wear
  an Ibex wooly undershirt, a jersey, a rain jacket, polarfleece tights
  over shorts, and wool socks with booties over them. For food I brought
  some brownie bites with peppermint patties in them, and a meat pie,
  plus a flask of gel.

  I overslept yesterday morning, so I had to rush to get out of the
  house. Luckily, I'd packed up everything the night before. In the
  rush, though, I probably didn't eat enough breakfast.

  I arrived in plenty of time, with a good chance to check out the other
  bikes. I didn't see any other Rivs, though I think there may have been
  an orange one I missed. Several riders had beautiful Steve Rex bikes.
  Several riders were using Rivish canvas handlebar bags, some with
  decaleurs. Oddly, about a third of the riders didn't have fenders,
  even though rain was predicted and it was in fact raining.

  Since it was raining steadily at the start, I donned the rain pants. I
  stopped a couple of times near the start of the ride, so ended up
  riding alone, but with a tailwind that didn't matter. The rain tailed
  off after about an hour, and the wind picked up. I was zipping right
  along, not working too hard. What a delight it was to ride an empty
  Highway 1.

  I stopped for a pitstop and snack just north of Pigeon Point, maybe 30
  miles in, but didn't eat very much. Between Pescadero and San Gregorio
  I was catching  up to a tandem. I had visions of that tandem being my
  new best friend on the way back into the wind, but then at the base of
  the hill just north of San Gregorio, I was feeling a little bonkish so
  I stopped for a peppermint, and I didn't see the tandem couple again.
  That hill is pesky-- it's only about three or four hundred feet, but
  it always seems more difficult that I think it should. Perhaps it
  always comes at a difficult time in a ride-. Usually I approach it
  after having climbed Page Mill, Haskins Hill and the two little hills
  on Stage Road, so I'm tired. There are three ways to climb it, and the
  one I was doing, north on Highway 1, is the easiest. Still, I was glad
  to summit and ride the rollers to Half Moon Bay. After Half Moon Bay,
  it was only a few miles to the turnaround.

  I reached the turnaround four hours in, feeling strong, and took the
  last parking spot at the end of the line-up of bikes stretched out
  along the wall of the market. I was hoping for hot soup or a tasty
  sandwich, but the convenience store had only nasty-looking premade
  sandwiches and no soup. I had a chocolate milk, a banana, a brownie
  bite and a couple of bites of meat pie-- not really enough. The people
  still left at the rest stop when I was ready to go looked strong, like
  I wouldn't be able to stay with them, so I headed out alone.

  It was tough. That happy dream of the wind dropping was a
  weatherliar's fantasy. The wind continued just as it had been all day,
  with whitecaps out on the ocean, only now I had to ride into it. I
  figured on stopping every fifteen miles on the way back. The first
  stop was a random beach, where I was the only one enjoying the cold
  windy picnic tables. I didn't linger, and again I didn't eat enough.

  My second stop was at Gazos Creek. I had just leaned my bike against
  the wall to go in the convenience store when I noticed a group of
  cyclists passing. I jumped back on the bike and with my last strength,
  bridged to join them. The benefit was obvious; I could sit in for a
  while and stop fighting the wind I'd been fighting for thirty miles.
  The cost became clear; I needed to eat and to get more water, but I
  didn't. But three angels riding Steve Rex bikes babysat me for the
  rest of the route, as I got weaker and weaker. We stopped in
  Davenport. One of the angels handed me a Coke. I slurped it down, but
  I was still draggling as one of my

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread Anne Paulson

On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:10 AM, William tapebu...@gmail.com wrote:
 Anne

 Thanks for the write up.  I'm ramping up for my first 200k brevet on
 the 22nd.  Several key points for me:

 1.  It's possible, even if it's cold windy and rainy

Absolutely! Wear wool, of course, but you knew that. I like the idea
of bringing along an extra pair of socks, even though I didn't end up
wearing mine.

You'll be fine. Good luck, and have fun.

 2.  Be happy how well my bike handles with a largish handlebar bag

What bike do you have, and what size? I haven't actually tried a
handlebar bag on my Roadeo, but I suspect that part of my dislike of
the a bag is because I'm female, with considerably less upper body
strength than men. Of course I can still steer the bike if it has a
handlebar bag-- I used to captain a tandem, which also requires more
muscling of the bike. But I notice the difference between a light
front end and a heavier front end. For example, one of my Atlantises
has a Nitto front rack, and the other doesn't. Even with no pannier on
the rack, I notice an enormous difference in handling. Others, perhaps
people who are stronger, wouldn't find a difference.

I forgot to mention in my writeup that a friend of mine was also
riding the brevet. She's a newer rider, very very strong, but she has
been influenced by the racey weight weenie carbon fiber crowd which is
far too prevalent in my area, so she rides one of those racey bikes.
She had put a handlebar bag on her bike, and she had to abandon
because she was unable to control the bike in the headwind. Now, those
racey bikes tend to have twitchy handling and are unsuited to...well,
unsuited to a lot of things, including wearing handlebar bags. But I
suspect that a man with her comparable level of fitness might have
been able to wrestle his bike into submission.  (She thinks she needs
to find another way to carry stuff on her bike for randonees. I think
she needs to find a different bike. ;)  )
-- 
-- Anne Paulson

My hovercraft is full of eels

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread CycloFiend

on 1/3/11 11:23 AM, Anne Paulson at anne.paul...@gmail.com wrote:

 (She thinks she needs
 to find another way to carry stuff on her bike for randonees. I think
 she needs to find a different bike. ;)  )

First ride is free... ;^)

Have her take your Roadeo around the block, preferably on a rainy day when
there are plenty of puddles on the ground.

- Jim Amazed to see so many fenderless riders over this past weekend...

-- 
Jim Edgar
cyclofi...@earthlink.net

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread Anne Paulson

On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:28 AM, CycloFiend cyclofi...@earthlink.net wrote:


 Have her take your Roadeo around the block, preferably on a rainy day when
 there are plenty of puddles on the ground.

 - Jim Amazed to see so many fenderless riders over this past weekend...

I know what would happen if she took my Roadeo for a ride. She'd pick
it up, and say, This bike is too heavy. Good thing her bike is so
light-- makes it easy to load in a car when she abandons.

-- 
-- Anne Paulson

My hovercraft is full of eels

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread CycloFiend

on 1/3/11 11:10 AM, William at tapebu...@gmail.com wrote:
 Thanks for the write up.  I'm ramping up for my first 200k brevet on
 the 22nd.  Several key points for me:
 
 1.  It's possible, even if it's cold windy and rainy
 2.  Be happy how well my bike handles with a largish handlebar bag
 3.  Fill said handlebar bag with food
 4.  Commit oneself to consume said food

William, for your ride, I'd add Know the route

I think you are talking about the SFR 200K Lighthouse Brevet.  There are a
few routing challenges early on (and the last 20 miles), so if you aren't
familiar with the course, you might run just the first leg (to Fairfax) and
back.  Each time I've ridden it, we've picked up out-of-towners who had
gotten themselves good and lost (mostly on the return leg).

The leg out to the Lighthouse can be challenging. No services or water
easily accessible once you roll past Inverness. It's very exposed once you
get past the oyster farms, and the Lighthouse Point looks vvveeeyyy far
away when you first glimpse it. But, most of that is just a mental
challenge.

It is a gorgeous, wonderful ride, and the SFR group is top drawer.

- Jim Work schedule making me miss that one this year...

-- 
Jim Edgar
cyclofi...@earthlink.net

Three T-shirts Now Available:
I've Got Downtube Shifters... S/S T-shirt
Cyclocross - More Cowbell L/S T-shirt
One Cog - Zero Excuses L/S T-shirt
http://www.cyclofiend.com/stuff

Gallery updates now appear here - http://cyclofiend.blogspot.com

Cyclofiend Bicycle Photo Galleries - http://www.cyclofiend.com
Current Classics - Cross Bikes
Singlespeed - Working Bikes


-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread cyclotourist

Oh snaps!

On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:34 AM, Anne Paulson anne.paul...@gmail.comwrote:



 I know what would happen if she took my Roadeo for a ride. She'd pick
 it up, and say, This bike is too heavy. Good thing her bike is so
 light-- makes it easy to load in a car when she abandons.

 --
 -- Anne Paulson



-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread CycloFiend

Hey there William -

Good luck in the Lighthouse ride!  I'll miss that one (though I _may_ roll
over to the finish to cheer folks in - definitely don't have the miles this
year.)

I have a few writeups of my experiences here:

http://cyclofiend.com/brevet/

Also, ride-buddy JimG has his:

http://yojimg.net/bike

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimg/sets/72157603804144098/

And Carlos' has lots of writeups and info on his bike site here:

http://bike.duque.net

Hope that gives you some info - happy to assist in any questions, etc.

- Jim

-- 
Jim Edgar
cyclofi...@earthlink.net

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread Anne Paulson

On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:36 AM, CycloFiend cyclofi...@earthlink.net wrote:


 I think you are talking about the SFR 200K Lighthouse Brevet.  There are a
 few routing challenges early on (and the last 20 miles), so if you aren't
 familiar with the course, you might run just the first leg (to Fairfax) and
 back.  Each time I've ridden it, we've picked up out-of-towners who had
 gotten themselves good and lost (mostly on the return leg).


Yeah-- if you're a cyclist in San Francisco, you've probably done that
first/last 25 miles a zillion times and it seems routine. But if
you're from out of town, it's a complicated route over the bridge,
through the confusing section at the north end of the bridge (where
the routing changes by time of day and is complicated on the return
trip) and then a rather dreary ride through 47 suburbs with random
turns here and there. It's easy to get lost; I have done so several
times.

So if doing that brevet, find a local friend to ride with.

-- 
-- Anne Paulson

My hovercraft is full of eels

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread William

  2.  Be happy how well my bike handles with a largish handlebar
bag

 What bike do you have, and what size? 

The bike I have set up specifically for brevet riding is a 58cm 650B
wheeled A. Homer Hilsen.  I did the ride in to the office today (60km
from El Cerrito to South Hayward) along Grizzly Peak -- Skyline --
Redwood.  I have a Mark's Rack, a Berthoud decaleur and a Loyal
Designs Handlebar bag.  The bike handles like there's nothing on
there.  I steer with my hips just like an unloaded bar.  The only time
I notice the presence of the bag is when I'm parking the bike, it
wants to flop over.  Low speed climbing (under 10mph) I guess I can
feel the front end want to wander a bit, but no more than anything
else.  Previous touring bikes I've owned I'd never even attempt to
ride no-handed when I had a handlebar bag on, but my Hilsen is solid
as a rock no-handed.  Today I had a light and rechargeable battery
pack in there, wallet, keys, phone, a few bars, two extra pairs of
gloves, hat, all loose.  Probably 6 or 7 pounds of junk and the bike
handled spectacularly well.

On Jan 3, 11:23 am, Anne Paulson anne.paul...@gmail.com wrote:
 On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:10 AM, William tapebu...@gmail.com wrote:
  Anne

  Thanks for the write up.  I'm ramping up for my first 200k brevet on
  the 22nd.  Several key points for me:

  1.  It's possible, even if it's cold windy and rainy

 Absolutely! Wear wool, of course, but you knew that. I like the idea
 of bringing along an extra pair of socks, even though I didn't end up
 wearing mine.

 You'll be fine. Good luck, and have fun.

  2.  Be happy how well my bike handles with a largish handlebar bag

 What bike do you have, and what size? I haven't actually tried a
 handlebar bag on my Roadeo, but I suspect that part of my dislike of
 the a bag is because I'm female, with considerably less upper body
 strength than men. Of course I can still steer the bike if it has a
 handlebar bag-- I used to captain a tandem, which also requires more
 muscling of the bike. But I notice the difference between a light
 front end and a heavier front end. For example, one of my Atlantises
 has a Nitto front rack, and the other doesn't. Even with no pannier on
 the rack, I notice an enormous difference in handling. Others, perhaps
 people who are stronger, wouldn't find a difference.

 I forgot to mention in my writeup that a friend of mine was also
 riding the brevet. She's a newer rider, very very strong, but she has
 been influenced by the racey weight weenie carbon fiber crowd which is
 far too prevalent in my area, so she rides one of those racey bikes.
 She had put a handlebar bag on her bike, and she had to abandon
 because she was unable to control the bike in the headwind. Now, those
 racey bikes tend to have twitchy handling and are unsuited to...well,
 unsuited to a lot of things, including wearing handlebar bags. But I
 suspect that a man with her comparable level of fitness might have
 been able to wrestle his bike into submission.  (She thinks she needs
 to find another way to carry stuff on her bike for randonees. I think
 she needs to find a different bike. ;)  )
 --
 -- Anne Paulson

 My hovercraft is full of eels

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread Steve Palincsar

On Mon, 2011-01-03 at 11:23 -0800, Anne Paulson wrote:
 suspect that part of my dislike of
 the a bag is because I'm female, with considerably less upper body
 strength than men.

Maybe if there's something wrong with your bike's geometry, you might
need upper body strength to fight the handlebars and horse around the
weight.  But then, what's wrong with that picture is with the proper
geometry, you don't have to fight the weight, it's absolutely
undetectable and has no affect on the steering, so no additional
strength is required.  What's more, that geometry gives you light
steering that is easy to fine tune with no effort at all.



-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread Anne Paulson

The Atlantis has something wrong with its geometry? What's the
difference between the geometry of my Atlantis and the geometry of
William's Hilsen?

On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:59 AM, Steve Palincsar palin...@his.com wrote:
 On Mon, 2011-01-03 at 11:23 -0800, Anne Paulson wrote:
 suspect that part of my dislike of
 the a bag is because I'm female, with considerably less upper body
 strength than men.

 Maybe if there's something wrong with your bike's geometry, you might
 need upper body strength to fight the handlebars and horse around the
 weight.  But then, what's wrong with that picture is with the proper
 geometry, you don't have to fight the weight, it's absolutely
 undetectable and has no affect on the steering, so no additional
 strength is required.  What's more, that geometry gives you light
 steering that is easy to fine tune with no effort at all.

-- 
-- Anne Paulson

My hovercraft is full of eels

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread Steve Palincsar

On Mon, 2011-01-03 at 12:02 -0800, Anne Paulson wrote:
 The Atlantis has something wrong with its geometry? What's the
 difference between the geometry of my Atlantis and the geometry of
 William's Hilsen?

The Atlantis doesn't have geometry intended for use with a heavily
loaded handlebar bag.  I can't compare it with a Hilsen, but I can
compare with a Kogswell P/R.




-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread Anne Paulson

On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 12:04 PM, Steve Palincsar palin...@his.com wrote:


 The Atlantis doesn't have geometry intended for use with a heavily
 loaded handlebar bag.  I can't compare it with a Hilsen, but I can
 compare with a Kogswell P/R.

So what's the tradeoff? Grant designed the Atlantis's geometry
intentionally, to do whatever it is he likes. If he had instead made
it like the Kogswell, what would he have been giving up to get the
neutral handling with a handlebar bag?

-- 
-- Anne Paulson

My hovercraft is full of eels

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread William

***slowly backs away from a thread veering towards the dreaded trail
vortex***

On Jan 3, 12:09 pm, Anne Paulson anne.paul...@gmail.com wrote:
 On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 12:04 PM, Steve Palincsar palin...@his.com wrote:

  The Atlantis doesn't have geometry intended for use with a heavily
  loaded handlebar bag.  I can't compare it with a Hilsen, but I can
  compare with a Kogswell P/R.

 So what's the tradeoff? Grant designed the Atlantis's geometry
 intentionally, to do whatever it is he likes. If he had instead made
 it like the Kogswell, what would he have been giving up to get the
 neutral handling with a handlebar bag?

 --
 -- Anne Paulson

 My hovercraft is full of eels

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread CycloFiend

on 1/3/11 12:09 PM, Anne Paulson at anne.paul...@gmail.com wrote:

 On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 12:04 PM, Steve Palincsar palin...@his.com wrote:
 
 
 The Atlantis doesn't have geometry intended for use with a heavily
 loaded handlebar bag.  I can't compare it with a Hilsen, but I can
 compare with a Kogswell P/R.
 
 So what's the tradeoff? Grant designed the Atlantis's geometry
 intentionally, to do whatever it is he likes. If he had instead made
 it like the Kogswell, what would he have been giving up to get the
 neutral handling with a handlebar bag?

There have been a number of threads regarding geometry and high vs. low
trail over on the ibob list. There are strong opinions and proponents of
each approach, and you can get a good sense of the specific tradeoffs of
each design choice.

It's probably better to start a new thread (rather than rename this one), if
folks want to discuss this again. We have talked about it, and IIRC, GP even
offered up some of his observations on the subject. Here's a quick, gotta
get back to work search on this list -

http://tinyurl.com/rbw-trail-talk

- Jim / list admin

-- 
Jim Edgar
cyclofi...@earthlink.net

Cyclofiend Bicycle Photo Galleries - http://www.cyclofiend.com
Current Classics - Cross Bikes
Singlespeed - Working Bikes

Gallery updates now appear here - http://cyclofiend.blogspot.com

The bike between her legs was like some hyper-evolved alien tail she'd
somehow extruded, as though over patient centuries; a sweet and intricate
bone-machine, grown Lexan-armored tires, near-frictionless bearings, and gas
filled shocks.

William Gibson - Virtual Light


-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

Re: [RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread Rene Sterental

The Hilsen and Atlantis have the same geometry, according to their
specs on the Riv site. I don't know if tubing alone could be
responsible for any difference, but wheel/tire size may.

René

Sent from my iPhone 4

On Jan 3, 2011, at 1:00 PM, William tapebu...@gmail.com wrote:

 ***slowly backs away from a thread veering towards the dreaded trail
 vortex***

 On Jan 3, 12:09 pm, Anne Paulson anne.paul...@gmail.com wrote:
 On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 12:04 PM, Steve Palincsar palin...@his.com wrote:

 The Atlantis doesn't have geometry intended for use with a heavily
 loaded handlebar bag.  I can't compare it with a Hilsen, but I can
 compare with a Kogswell P/R.

 So what's the tradeoff? Grant designed the Atlantis's geometry
 intentionally, to do whatever it is he likes. If he had instead made
 it like the Kogswell, what would he have been giving up to get the
 neutral handling with a handlebar bag?

 --
 -- Anne Paulson

 My hovercraft is full of eels

 --
 You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
 RBW Owners Bunch group.
 To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
 To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
 For more options, visit this group at 
 http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.


-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread Jim M.

Thanks for the inspiring report! I'm looking forward to doing my first
brevets this year.

jim m
wc ca

On Jan 2, 9:18 pm, Anne Paulson anne.paul...@gmail.com wrote:
 As of last night, I'm averaging 200K per day for 2011.

 Thanks, everyone, for the brevet advice. As promised, here's the report.

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K

2011-01-03 Thread EricP

Congrats.  Definitely shows my rides over the weekend were properly
weak.

Makes me want to contemplate a 200k in the future.  However, will not
join a club just to do the one ride.

Eric Platt
St. Paul, MN

On Jan 3, 1:23 pm, Anne Paulson anne.paul...@gmail.com wrote:
 On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:10 AM, William tapebu...@gmail.com wrote:
  Anne


-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K handlebar bag

2011-01-03 Thread Joan Oppel

Thanks for the terrific write up on the brevet. As for handlebar bags: for touring (which I do with only rear panniers as I motel tour), I use a lightweight small bag on my handlebars that carries my pointshoot digital camera and food. The bag is an unmentionable brand but it is quite light. A headlight would still fit on the top of the bars. I cannot notice any difference in handling of the Bleriot (or for that matter, the Waterford) with that small bag. And since I mostly ride both bikes without a bag, I think I would notice if the bag had some effect. If needed, I can unzip the bag, grab a bar, tear the wrapper with my teeth and eat it while riding. Not my first choice, but I've done it to hang with folks.A small, light bag might work on the Roadeo. Happy riding,JoanJan 3, 2011 08:51:25 PM, rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com wrote:Congrats. Definitely shows my rides over the weekend were properlyweak.Makes me want to contemplate a 200k in the future. However, will notjoin a club just to do the one ride.Eric PlattSt. Paul, MNOn Jan 3, 1:23pm, Anne Paulson wrote: On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:10 AM, William wrote: Anne-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.

For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[RBW] Re: Gray Whale 200K handlebar bag

2011-01-03 Thread Michael_S

Acorn has a new small handlebar bag that would be perfect for your
Roadeo. And there made right here is So Cal.

~Mike~

On Jan 3, 6:46 pm, Joan Oppel oppel...@verizon.net wrote:
 Thanks for the terrific write up on the brevet.  As for handlebar bags:  for 
 touring (which I do with only rear panniers as I motel tour),  I use a 
 lightweight small bag on my handlebars that carries my pointshoot digital 
 camera and food.  The bag is an unmentionable brand but it is quite light.  A 
 headlight would still fit on the top of the bars.  I cannot notice any 
 difference in handling of the Bleriot (or for that matter, the Waterford) 
 with that small bag.  And since I mostly ride both bikes without a bag, I 
 think I would notice if the bag had some effect.  If needed, I can unzip the 
 bag, grab a bar, tear the wrapper with my teeth and eat it while riding.  Not 
 my first choice, but I've done it to hang with folks.
 A small, light bag might work on the Roadeo.
 Happy riding,
 Joan
 Jan 3, 2011 08:51:25 PM, rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com wrote:Congrats. 
 Definitely shows my rides over the weekend were properly
 weak.
 Makes me want to contemplate a 200k in the future. However, will not
 join a club just to do the one ride.
 Eric Platt
 St. Paul, MN
 On Jan 3, 1:23 pm, Anne Paulson wrote:
  On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 11:10 AM, William wrote:
   Anne
 
 --
 You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
 RBW Owners Bunch group.
 To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
 To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
 rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
 For more options, visit this group at 
 http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW 
Owners Bunch group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to 
rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

37 matches

Mail list logo